Liberation: Christianity & Mahayana Buddhism

Online booking only: Places very limited (6 maximum)
Ticket price: £15; £10 for Academy Members and those in higher or further education

Description

Both Christianity and Mahayana Buddhism promise salvation or liberation to their followers. But what is salvation and liberation for these traditions, and what are we to be saved or liberated from? Join Haoyu Yang 楊昊宇 (Anthony Haynes) on this philosophical and theological journey, comparing traditional Western Christianity (Catholicism) and Far Eastern Mahayana Buddhism (Ch'an and Zen)—revealing the foundational principles that make both traditions eminently relevant today. For details about Haoyu and reviews from students, see below.

Our Tutor

Haoyu Yang 楊昊宇 (Anthony Haynes) is founder and director of Clear Water Academy 一清社 and is a third-year PhD student at the University of Edinburgh's School of Divinity, having previously received his masters degree in philosophy at the University of St. Andrews. He has tutored the 'Atheism in Debate', 'Ethics & Society' and 'God in Philosophy' modules at the University of Edinburgh and is an experienced private tutor, having tutored postgraduate students at masters and PhD level in theology (see below for testimonies). He also provides classes to the general public, having given an introduction to Buddhist thought and practice at Firhill High School in June 2016, an introduction to Taoist philosophy and meditation at Portobello High School in June 2017 and meditation workshops for students at Clear Water Academy 一清社. Haoyu's publications include 'Jacques Maritain’s Definition of Art’, New Blackfriars, (2015) and 'Jacques Maritain’s Ethics of Art’, New Blackfriars (2016). He is currently in collaboration with Chiawei Wang, writing an article on the philosophical differences underlying the Chinese and English languages.

Student Reviews

'I was at Clear Water Academy for the "Way of Emptiness" seminar with Anthony and let me just say that it was an eye opening experience. I just might start my path into philosophy!! Great seminar with a great tutor. I highly recommend.'

- Tânia Nazaré, on The Way of Emptiness, (29th July 2017)

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'Anthony visited my higher RMPS class last year to deliver a meditation session in preparation for a course on Buddhism. This year, I enlisted his great mind to teach meditation to kids with a variety of mental health issues who also happen to be LGBTQ+. He dealt with this opportunity sensitively and prepared carefully beforehand, connecting with students on a personal level, making it a worthwhile experience for all.'

'I recently attended the 'The Way of Emptiness' talk led by Anthony Haynes. This was a thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking session. Anthony has a light-hearted and accessible teaching style that really helps make the incomprehensible comprehensible! Highly recommended!'

- Clare Cassells, on The Way of Emptiness (10th June 2017)

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'This was a really interesting afternoon spent with Anthony Haynes. He was a great tutor, presenting the topic in a clear, easy and fun way which was easy to understand (which was a very tough job considering the topic!) It was really interesting to hear definitions of emptiness from other places other than the Tibetan Buddhist side which I was already familiar with. I found this to be a very beneficial course and would highly recommend both the course and Anthony as a teacher and I look forward to attending the Academy for further teachings.'

- Mark Laidlaw, on The Way of Emptiness (10th June 2017)

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Anthony Haynes is the best private tutor and proofreader I have ever had. He is an expert at proofreading with lots of experience. He has lots of knowledge not only about Western philosophy but also Eastern philosophy. His knowledge about Taoism has been helpful as he has provided constructive criticism and suggested revisions of my work. Anthony is also a kind and caring person who can get along with everybody. I strongly recommend him as a tutor and proofreader.'

'Anthony Haynes (Haoyu Yang) was my tutor for the God in Philosophy course. He was one of the best seminar leaders I had in my first year, managing to engage everyone in the discussion and make the course content seem interesting and easy to learn. I enjoyed every seminar in this course due to this, as well as due to the relaxed and casual atmosphere he created.

'I would definitely encourage anyone to considering tutoring from him as he makes learning about even the most complex things fun and understandable.'

- Lydia Bell, MA in Philosophy, University of Edinburgh ('God in Philosophy' module, January 2017 - April 2017)

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'Last year Anthony tutored me in my Ethics and Society module. In most tutorials at university, there is mostly one constant speaker, this is either because it is their presentation week, or they are confident in speaking and debating about the topics. However, Anthony organised the classes in a way that everyone would try make contribution to the debate that we were studying in that week. This I found especially important, as it helped increase my confidence in contributing in class. When it came to writing the essay for this course Anthony was more than happy to look at my essay plan and answer any questions about the essay that I was unsure about. As a student with dyslexia, this was vital for me. I would therefore encourage anyone who wants to be tutored in philosophy or theology to definitely consider being tutored by Anthony.'

'Anthony is incredibly knowledgable in a wide variety of philosophical positions and theories. Having had him as a tutor during a course called Atheism in Debate, he was able to easily switch between giving concise information on a topic and facilitating a conversation or debate in it. Throughout the entirety of the course there was never an aspect that he was unfamiliar with nor a question he was unable to answer. The seminars were always very engaging and he introduced new ways of learning about the topics beyond the lecturing and discussion normally associated with seminars. I couldn't recommend a more adept and better equipped tutor to be taught philosophy from.'

- Isaac Henderson, MA in Religious Studies, University of Edinburgh ('Atheism in Debate' module, October 2015 - December 2015)

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'Anthony was the tutor of my seminar group during the 'Atheism in debate' programme at Edinburgh University. Offering a lot of room for everyone to speak, he really helped that group of first year students open up and voice their opinions, which led to some very interesting discussions. In my opinion Anthony is a tutor who will help you find the answer yourself instead of dictating it to you. Outside of the tutorials I greatly appreciated his help when it came to essay writing. I was happy to consult his experience and knowledge to help me make sense of my essay question. In conclusion: Anthony is a great guy, with plenty experience in philosophy and I would highly recommend him as a tutor.'

'As a student in the MSc Science & Religion programme at New College, Anthony’s help was invaluable. Not only did he provide excellent academic guidance in the 7 months of his tutelage, he also encouraged and supported me personally through the intensive process. His philosophy background brought fresh insight and opened new doors of understanding. His teaching proved to be a benchmark during the thesis project and in further academic study.

'Anthony is congenial to work with, has a great sense of humor—which helped during intense study moments—and the willingness to go the distance in helping a person achieve their study goals. He is extremely forbearing with tutor scheduling, adaptation to classwork, and personal timeframes. His tuition fees are fair, especially in light of the high level of teaching he provides.

Anthony provides excellent scholarship and will be a benefit to anyone who would like to academically succeed.'